Late Huhume’s body still at funeral home

Seven weeks after her passing, the late Susan Karike Huhume’s body is still being kept at a funeral home in Port Moresby.

PNG’s flag designer has not been buried yet due to misunderstandings between her family and the Government.

Eldest son Philip Huhume told Loop PNG that they had planned to bury her on May 25, if the Government promptly addresses their concerns.

“We came up with a tentative haus krai and funeral plan, which was submitted to the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council,” he said.

However, last week the family received a memo from the Department saying the Government will help with the funeral arrangement but “not all funeral expenses”.

The document, dated May 18, was written by the Department’s head, Tambon Jackabus Tara. It was addressed to the Office of the Prime Minister’s acting chief of staff and Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari.

This memo is the first form of official correspondence the family has received from the Government. Unfortunately, it has raised more questions than ease their mind.

“We came up with a rough budget break up weeks ago, which I submitted to the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council, but from the memo, I don’t think they had a look at it,” Philip told Loop PNG.

“I have been advised to come up with an invoice but I have not been given a budget limit or directions on what to do.”

The document, which Loop PNG sighted, did not respond to the family’s request for a state funeral. However, it mentioned that the proposed burial at Independence Hill “won’t be possible because there’s a lot of processes to follow and the Government has to approve it”.

Susan Karike Huhume passed away on the afternoon of April 11 at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Her body is still at the Dove Funeral Home.

(File pic)

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Author: 
Carmella Gware